The Ancient Geography of India. I. The Buddhist Period, including the Campaigns of Alexander, and the Travels of Hwen-Thsang c5.s4.t11.9

c5.s4.t11.9

According to Hwen Thsang, the district of Chinapata was about 2000 *li*, or 333 miles, in circuit. With these dimensions, it must have comprised the whole of the upper Bâri Doâb, between the Biâs and the Râvi, from the foot of the hills to the old junction of the Biâs and Satlej, near Firuzpur. The name of Chi-na-po-ti, or Chinapati, is referred to the time of the great Indo-Scythian king Kanishka, who fixed this place as the residence of his Chinese hostages. The pilgrim adds, that previous to their residence, India had possessed neither pears nor peaches, both of which were introduced by the Chinese hostages. The pears were called *Chi-na-ni*, or *Chináni*, that is, “brought from China,” and the peaches *Chi-na-lo-she-fo-ta-lo*, or *China-rája-putra*, that is, the “China King’s sons.” This is not quite correct, as both pears and peaches are found growing wild in the neighbouring hills. But there are now two kinds of cultivated peaches, the one round and juicy, the other flat and sweet. The first, which is called *árú* in Hindi, and *Shaftálú* in Persian, is certainly indigenous; but the other, which is called *Chini-shaftálú*, is most probably that which Hwen Thsang refers to as having been introduced from China.